Respawn Entertainment, the developer behind Titanfall and Apex Legends, has taken a strong stance against dataminers by permanently banning two well-known Apex dataminers, Osvoldatore and Hypermyst. The bans were issued on September 29 and were likely manually implemented by the developers themselves.
Osvoldatore and Hypermyst were known for their extensive datamining efforts, which involved uncovering details about upcoming maps and skins before their official release. This practice is common in live-service multiplayer games like Apex, where future updates are often packed into the current release. By sharing this information on social media, the dataminers gained a significant following and provided the game’s dedicated audience with a sneak peek of what was to come.
Interestingly, Respawn cited “cheating” as the reason for the bans, despite the fact that datamining does not involve modifying game files or providing players with any tactical advantage. The bans were likely manually issued, as automated detection systems would not have detected datamining activities. This suggests that Respawn developers personally handed out the bans.
Respawn’s decision to ban the dataminers can be understood from their perspective. Revealing works in progress before their official debut can be detrimental to creators and disrupt marketing timelines. Additionally, the Electronic Arts User Agreement explicitly prohibits the use of automated devices or processes to access game services and scrape data.
However, datamining can also be a valuable tool for building hype within a community. The large following of Hypermyst and Osvoldatore demonstrates the enthusiasm players have for staying up to date with new content. Some Apex players have expressed their disappointment with Respawn’s decision, suggesting that the developers could have embraced datamining as an unofficial teaser for upcoming features.
The outcome of this situation remains uncertain. It is unclear whether Respawn will reconsider their decision or if the dataminers will be unbanned. Nevertheless, this incident could set a precedent for other developers, sending a clear message that unauthorized access to game files will not be tolerated.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
